News from Stardust Castle
325,000 welcome Father Christmas to Adelaide
10 November 2019
325,000 people have welcomed Father Christmas to Adelaide following the 2019 National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant.
In a year of change to the traditional Pageant route, with more Blue Honour Line to squeeze excited children and families to the annual day of Christmas celebration, Father Christmas was welcomed to Adelaide Town Hall in scenes reminiscent of the city's grand receptions on the famed King William Street balcony.
New floats such as 'Our Wonderful World', 'Mermaid', 'Cinderella' and the official 2019 procession-leading float welcoming National Pharmacies as the Pageant's new title sponsor wowed the crowd, with National Pharmacies' staff leading the way as performers on the route.
The 2019 National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant is available to stream retrospectively on Channel 9's streaming platform 9now.com.au, as well as on Christmas Day across Australia.
The Official 2019 National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant DVD is also available to order here.
The 2020 National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant will take place on Saturday 14 November 2020.
2019 National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant inspiring everyone to celebrate A World Full of Wonder
8 November 2019
Tomorrow’s National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant is expected to see more than 300,000 smiling faces watching and eagerly awaiting the arrival of Father Christmas, after the golden whistle is blown to signify the start of the Pageant for the 87th time.
Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, David Ridgway, said that the much-loved parade signaled the start of the Christmas season in South Australia, as well as celebrating the first year of new sponsor National Pharmacies.
“It is a day that is all about happiness and entertainment to children and adults of all ages. The National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant brings so much joy to South Australians. It is one of the biggest free community events in South Australia and it really does bring us all together to celebrate the season with friends and family,” said Minister Ridgway.
“This year’s theme of ‘A World Full of Wonder’ perfectly reflects how amazing the Pageant is – magical characters, amazing costumes and a wonderful atmosphere, and I’m looking forward to seeing everything come to life tomorrow.”
Brian Gilbertson, Creative Director, said four new floats were created for this year’s event, including the National Pharmacies lead float which will set off behind the Police Greys, Mermaid Christmas, Cinderella and Shaping our Wonderful World, which was the final float revealed earlier this week.
“It has been such an exciting time at Stardust Castle, with all the elves on deck to create these glorious new floats. Each majestic float will be sure to delight families as they travel the city route,” said Mr Gilbertson.
In addition to the new Pageant floats, this year the National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant will also welcome the Royal Australian Air Force Roulettes* aerobatic display team who will conduct a fly-past over the City of Adelaide between 9:02am and 9:15am, before the Pageant officially commences.
“What a thrilling start to the Pageant and one of the best days of the year. As these incredibly skillful pilots fly over the city, they will certainly be travelling faster than our tow motors which only travel 4kms per hour!” he said.
The Pageant will be travelling a new route this year through the beautiful streets of Adelaide, with Father Christmas arriving at the Adelaide Town Hall for the very first time.
“It really will be such a pivotal and spectacular moment as Father Christmas greets the children and families along the leafy boulevard of King William Street for the first time,” he said.
Vito Borrello, Chief Executive Officer, National Pharmacies said, “We’re thrilled that the big day is almost here. Tomorrow morning hundreds of National Pharmacies staff and members will take part in the Christmas Pageant in what is sure to be a memorable day.”
“We are incredibly honored and proud to play such a significant role in one of South Australia’s most loved events and traditions. We can’t wait to see the streets lined with the smiling faces of South Australian families,” he said.
Camp Quality is this year’s Charity Partner once again, a worthy organisation giving kids facing cancer the chance to be kids again.
Mr Gilbertson said, “We encourage Pageant-goers to keep an eye out for our special friends from Camp Quality along the route who will be collecting for this extremely worthy cause. Feel free to offer a gold coin donation or use their ‘tap and go’ technology.”
The 2019 National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant will be held on Saturday 9th November and departs from South Terrace at 9:30am, delivering Father Christmas to the Adelaide Town Hall at approximately 11:20am.
Cinderella, and Mermaids debut at this year’s National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant launch
9 October 2019
The National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant unveiled three new floats at the 2019 Christmas Pageant Launch which was held at Stardust Castle on Wednesday 9th October. Making their debut was the Cinderella float, Mermaid float and the lead National Pharmacies float.
Adelaide MP and Minister for Child Protection Rachel Sanderson said she was thrilled by the wonder and excitement from the big and little guests, as the three floats were presented for the very first time at this year’s Christmas Pageant event launch.
“The National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant is the traditional start to the festive season in South Australia, and one that will see more than 320,000 young and old, happy faces lining the new pageant route,” said Minister Sanderson.
“This year we welcome National Pharmacies to the Christmas Pageant family as naming rights sponsor, and over 600 of their National Pharmacies staff and members who will be taking part in the Pageant for the very first time.
“The families that were at today’s launch, were mesmerized by the magical Cinderella float, delighted with the mermaid float, and very proud to welcome the new lead National Pharmacies float. Today also signals the start of one of the most anticipated countdowns on the social calendar for South Australians as we start to count our sleeps to this year’s National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant.”
Brian Gilbertson, Pageant Director, National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant said, “this year’s theme, A World Full of Wonder, is to inspire everyone to share the power of wonder – wonder how? wonder why? wonder what’s possible? We want to encourage children to wonder about the world, and adults to take a moment to reflect and remember what it's like to dream.”
“The Pageant team is very proud to present our new floats, and I am sure they will be well received and loved by the thousands of Pageant fans. We really cannot wait to see all the excited children with their big smiles on the day,” said Brian Gilbertson.
National Pharmacies Chief Executive Officer Vito Borrello said, “National Pharmacies is incredibly honored and proud to play such a significant role in one of South Australia’s most traditional and beloved events. It is a wonderful celebration for children and families, and we are thrilled to be able to be part of bringing Christmas joy to South Australians.
“National Pharmacies believes in community and giving back to our members and South Australian families. Being a part of the Christmas Pageant, is something that all our members and staff are very much looking forward to.”
The 2019 National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant will be held on Saturday 9 November, departing from South Terrace at 9.30 am once Sir Edward Hayward’s legendary gold whistle is blown.
National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant to deliver Father Christmas to the people of South Australia, arriving at the Adelaide Town Hall
16 August 2019
Adelaide Town Hall will welcome Father Christmas at this year’s National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant, as the Pageant route ends on the leafy boulevard of King William Street.
This year will see a change to the Christmas Pageant route, with Father Christmas being delivered to the people of South Australia, through the streets of Adelaide, arriving at Town Hall.
The Pageant has enjoyed a long and wonderful partnership with David Jones, which has made the decision to end its sponsorship of the event this year. With this change, brings the opportunity to create a new arrival location for Father Christmas in 2019, on the iconic and historical balcony of the Adelaide Town Hall.
Pageant Director Brian Gilbertson said “we would like to acknowledge the partnership of David Jones, and their role in our Christmas Pageant. Their decision has afforded us an opportunity to share the wonder of Christmas in a new and exciting way by delivering Father Christmas to all South Australians via the beautiful Town Hall and travelling through the heart of the city of Adelaide”.
Father Christmas will, as always, be welcomed to the city by the Pageant Royal Family and the thousands of South Australians and visitors who line the route.
The Pageant has taken various routes over its 87 year journey, Mr Gilbertson added “it will be quite an emotional and heart-warming sight for the crowds in King William Street as Father Christmas stands on the balcony and overlooks a sea of smiling faces, excited children and families who have come to see him and herald in the Christmas season.”
Father Christmas will land at the Adelaide Town Hall and once his float has cleared the area, the public will be invited to gather in front of the Town Hall where choirs will be singing as we greet Father Christmas who will make his way to the balcony and wave to the crowds before giving his Christmas message.
The 2019 Pageant, the first under new naming rights partner National Pharmacies, will continue the tradition of delivering Father Christmas to South Australia, signifying the commencement of the Christmas season for South Australians.
The city streets of Adelaide, in particular Rundle Mall, will once again embrace the celebrations of Pageant Day and the Christmas season with their own celebrations for Christmas.
Mr Gilbertson said, “We are excited to deliver the 87th National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant to the people of South Australia. I invite everyone to check out the new Pageant route and find your favourite old or new spot, as it may be. The King William Street option will be quite beautiful with its tree-lined outlook. We look forward to seeing everyone’s wonderful smiling faces on Pageant Day and the elves at Stardust Castle are working their magic to produce another spectacular event.”
2019 National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant route
The 2019 National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant will commence at South Terrace and travel north along King William Street, through Victoria Square/Tarntanyangga and Reconciliation Plaza along Wakefield Street, left into Pulteney Street, left along North Terrace and then south along King William Street with Father Christmas arriving to greet the people of South Australia at the Adelaide Town Hall.
The 2019 National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant will take place on Saturday 9 November 2019.
Queen Sharon and King Wally announced as the 2019 National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant Royal Family
23 July 2019
The 2019 National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant Royal Family was presented at a coronation under the Canopy at Rundle Mall at 10.30am 23 July, in a Christmas setting created especially for the regal occasion.
The three Princesses and three Princes were selected by their peers for the coveted roles and are now ready to shine on Pageant Day.
National Pharmacies employees Sharon Watson and Wally Delbello were bestowed the honour of being the inaugural National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant Queen and King for this, the first year of the National Pharmacies’ sponsorship of the much-loved South Australian event.
National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant Event Director, Brian Gilbertson, said the judging panel for the Royal Family was presented with a challenging task as the candidates presented by National Pharmacies were of such a high calibre.
“Each and every member of this year’s National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant Royal Family are worthy of their titles. Community spirit, strong team values as well as Pageant passion are qualities we look for to fill these very important Pageant roles, and they all certainly exhibit these traits,” said Brian Gilbertson, Event Director.
Queen Sharon is absolutely delighted with her appointment and said she has always wanted such an opportunity.
“It is every child's dream to be part of this magical event, and many adults have this dream too, so I am proud, delighted and excited to be here as National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant Queen,” she said.
King Wally mirrored Queen Sharon’s excitement and said it’s a great honour to be part of the magic on Pageant Day.
“I look forward to sharing the magic of folklore and Father Christmas at this special event, which means so much to the community,” he said.
Queen Sharon and King Wally will be joined by Royal Family members Christine Johnston, Ana Acic, Ian Truong and Nic Conway on the Royal Ball float in this year’s Pageant.
National Pharmacies Managing Director, Tony Wojciechowski, said the entire National Pharmacies team and their families are thrilled at the opportunity to take part in such an iconic Adelaide event.
“We are extremely proud to be the new flag-bearers of this unique South Australian event and with that comes all of the excitement of helping to bring the Pageant to life,” he said.
“Our first National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant Royal Family is already doing us proud and we look forward to seeing them shine on Pageant Day.”
In addition to the King and Queen announcement, the official Pageant theme was also announced.
‘A World Full of Wonder’ invites us all to be mindful of the many wonderful things that are happening around us each and every day and that the Pageant is one example of the magic and wonder that happens in our communities when we all work together.
The Pageant gives South Australians the chance to dream, believe and experience the wonder of Christmas.
The 2019 National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant Royal Family will make their royal debut at official events close to pageant day.
150 sleeps until the National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant
12 June 2019
Today marks 150 sleeps until this year’s National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant and the elves at Stardust Castle just can’t wait, with preparations well underway.
Brian Gilbertson, Event Director, National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant said everyone who loves Christmas and has a passion for the event will already be making their plans for the big day.
“For those passionate National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant fans, we know they will be once again eagerly awaiting the return of our much loved South Australian event to the streets of Adelaide,” he said.
“The elves are already working on some exciting new floats and we‘re sure that they will become crowd favourites with them being revealed in October.”
With 150 sleeps to go, we are also excited to reveal the new brand identity for the first National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant.
Tony Wojciechowski, Managing Director, National Pharmacies said South Australia’s National Pharmacies are extremely proud and excited about being involved with this unique South Australian event for the first time this year.
“Real anticipation is building among our staff and members here at National Pharmacies as this momentous day draws closer. We’re looking forward to bringing this special Christmas event to the children and families of South Australia.”
“Our partnership with the Christmas Pageant brings together two uniquely South Australian brands and it is an honour to now be a central part of helping deliver Father Christmas to Adelaide and the people of South Australia. We can’t wait to see the happiness this event brings to children and families across the state,” said Tony Wojciechowski.
National Pharmacies has stores across South Australia with some 750 staff, many of whom are looking forward to rehearsals and costume fittings over the coming months in preparation for the Pageant day.